JRL should join the All Party Delegation to be sent to Delhi for talks on Ramzan ceasefire, says Akhtar

Srinagar: Works Minister and government spokesman Naeem Akhtar on Friday called upon the Joint Resistance Leadership to show willingness for joining the All Party delegation proposed to be sent to Delhi for dialogue on the Ramzan ceasefire.

Talking to KNS, the senior PDP Minister said, “The proposal on ceasefire is in public domain and we all welcome the statements on ceasefire from people of all shades and political ideologies. Let JRL also join the All Party delegation to be sent to Delhi for dialogue on ceasefire and Pakistan must also respond to the ceasefire proposal keeping in view the feelings of Kashmiris.”

Calling upon Pakistan to respond to the feelings of Kashmiris for peace and reconciliation, the way former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Pakistan president General (Retd) Parvez Musharraf did, Akhter said, “If Vajpayee and Musharraf could walk on the path of peace and ceasefire why can’t the present leaders in India and Pakistan follow the suit to respect the feelings of Kashmiris.”

Saying that Kashmir is not a problem for PDP but is a political issue which deserves engagement of all stakeholders, Akhtar said, “A new discourse has started.”

He pointed out that as far as the remarks of NC working president Omar Abdullah are concerned he is none to deliver sermons when he himself as CM has failed to keep promises on withdrawal of AFSPA and other CBMs on Kashmir.

“We don’t want to engage with Omar Abdullah on the arguments he has made but welcome his statements over the ceasefire proposal. He is in opposition and deserves the right to put forth his point of view before the government,” he said.

In reply to a question about the response of main opposition National Conference, Akhtar said, “NC leaders had promised to convey their response on the proposal after discussing the issue with the party top brass. They have not responded as yet.”

When contacted NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar told KNS “We have sought time for discussing the issue with the party top brass as both party president Farooq Abdullah and working President Omar Abdullah are out of station and on their return we will discuss the issue with them and convey the final response to the government thereafter.”